Lily rubbed the raw skin on her ankles, flinching at the pain. Dave apologized for hurting her, she believed him. He did not appear to her like a man who apologized for anything. Lily was memorized by his smile. His face seemed to brighten with it, the room in fact seemed to lighten with it. She watched him leave to retrieve the supplies. Lily realized once she was in the silence of the room just how much her muscles ached from inactivity. She thought if she just walked she would feel better. Lily swung her feet over the side of the bed and placed them on the floor. She stood up for the first time since running in her village. Her legs wobbled under her, but finally she found her balance. Lily took a few small steps and stood for a few moments. It felt so good to be standing. She saw the window and decided to see what it was that Dave had spent so much time looking at. She started to make her way to it, when her legs gave out from under her. She collapsed into a heap on the floor, too sore to pull herself up. Fine mess I've gotten into now! I should have stayed on the bed and waited for Dave to return. Not knowing how long it would take Dave to return, Lily decided to make an attempt to move. She placed her hands on the floor and pushed down to lift herself up. The pain from the wounds on her wrist was so intense, she could not stand it. Tears formed in her eyes and started to fall. Stop that! Stop that now! It has been eons since I've cried! I . . . I . . ." The voice which was normally so strong and willful, stopped short. Lily experienced that. Could it be that the inner voice was crying too? Lily sobbed silently, she did not notice that Dave had returned with the supples, until his hand brushed her face. He asked what had happened and she made several attempts to tell him. "I . . . just needed to stretch. Everything hurts so much. . . I could not stand up once I had fallen." Before Lily could have another thought, Dave's hand brought her face up so she could look into his eyes. He gently wiped away her tears and she was shocked as he circled her with his muscular arms, hugging her tightly. It seemed so natural and she felt so protected. She heard him ask her not to cry and she tried her best to stop. She nodded as he asked her if he could take her back to the bed and bandage her ankles. Grabbing his neck as he lifted her off the floor and carried her to the bed. Lily inhaled sharply as he applied the salve to her wounds, despite the fact she knew he was trying to be gentle. She watched him intently as he wrapped her ankles in the bandages. Drawn to how gentle he was, how warm his skin felt as he touched her.
Lily made eye contact with Dave, her heart beating so loudly, she was sure he would hear it. His hands slid down to her feet and rubbed them gently. She had no idea that such strong hands could provide so much comfort. Oh! That feels so good! Lily sighed as her muscles finally relaxed. Never taking her eyes off him as he worked his magic and watched as his hand slowly eased away from her ankle and started to move up her leg. Lily had never had a man touch her like he was. Hell, she had never had any man touch her, with the exception of her father's disciplinary slaps. Dave looked into her eyes as his hand stopped and rested at her knee. She watched him move closer to her . . . part of her thought she should move away, but she could not bring herself to do it. Before she could decide what to do the back of his hand brushed her cheek. It was such a change for her, to be treated so lovingly. Lily looked at him again, but noticed his eyes had focused somewhere else. Her lips parted as the pad of his thumb traced her lips. She barely had time to process the act before his lips collided with her own. It was soft and fierce at the same time, everything Lily had imagined a kiss would be like. Her mouth opened wider to his and she was greeted with his tongue. Her eyes widened, but as much as she was shocked, she was intrigued and excited by it. She wrapped her arm around his neck, she did not want this kiss to end ever. Lilth's voice in her head was silenced and replaced with a soft moaning. Lily was shocked immediately as Dave pulled back and took her face firmly in his hands. She was scared briefly by the intensity in his eyes, but the fear was replaced by love as he declared his love for her . . . for Lilith for whoever she was and begged her not to leave him again. She could see the emotion in his eyes as he said the words to her.